In Oswaldo Cabrera’s first week in the majors, the Yankees made the most of the many gloves that occupy his locker. On any given day he finds that he can be sent to four places and be expected to hold his own.
This type of versatile player is bound to exist, as the No. 95 league middle infielder was drafted for the first team with a $250 million salary. But Cabrera, 23, before throwing on a coat of some kind in his uniform imitation of a pearl necklace that, due to the mixture of white and colored beads, matches well enough with the Yankees business accede, to make it pop to the spectators watching at home.
“I like it now,” said relief pitcher Ron Marinaccio, another Yankees rookie who has been with Cabrera in the minors and majors this year. “He’s his own thing. That’s what I like about Oswald. He’s not really worried about what anyone else thinks. He’s doing his own thing, and he’s having fun.”
Cabrera, who immediately found his way into a steady stream of mound videos on social media for his defensive prowess, received a handmaiden necklace from Milton Ramos about six weeks ago.
Ramos, an infielder who was a third-round pick of the Mets in 2014, broke his hand on a swing during one of the minor league stops and ended up founding the company PawGripz, which makes rubber gloves to protect players’ hands. Finally, he decided that he should also sell something beautiful to his authors.
“Look good, you know how to play good?” said Ramos, who competed against Cabrera in the minors. “I was like, ‘Hey man, I’m going to send you a necklace,’ because that’s my friend, it’s never taken away from me.
“Everybody loves her,” Cabrera said. “Everybody asks me. I’m like: ‘Hey, this is my man. Ask him!’
Ramos said his other big league clients are Gary Sánchez, Nick Gordon, Triston McKenzie and Chris Archer. Cabrera Ramos wears a “Pollyanna Necklace” — so called because it’s meant for people who are up and going — that sells for $29.99.
However, there is only one type of goat. It features two lettered buttons that spell “OZ” befitting the nickname of the player whose defensive wizardry made him an instant fan favorite.
Standing at a distance from all Stop
When Cabrera ran to second base on Monday against the Mets, it was just his sixth home run in the majors. Having previously worked at shortstop, third base and right field, Cabrera became the first Yankees player to start at four different positions in his first six appearances.
Outfielder Estevan Florial, who was promoted to Cabrera one week ago, said: “It doesn’t matter where he plays. He’s ready all the time.”
Cabrera managed to sign at any point.
He reminded people of Derek Jeter’s jump shot in the short slot. Yankee Stadium broke through the net and rolled up the tarp while chasing a pop-up third. He jumped up and looted what he could have hidden in the outfield. Flip showed a slippery ball in a double play initiative. And Tuesday against the Mets they drove the runner home of the law of the field.
Unfortunately, there is no course. Monday’s 4-2 win over the Mets was sparked by some miscommunication in the pop-up. Cabrera ventured into the outfield on a pop-up by Pete Alonso to ground out Marwin Gonzalez to right field. The fields collided and the ball fell to the ground. Making matters worse, the next batter, designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach, gave the Yankees an error — Cabrera charged — with two homers.
However, the Yankees value Cabrera’s tenacity and flexibility, and they can bear with a few rookie mistakes along the way.
“He’s fearless. You’ve seen him all over the diamond make really good plays,” Manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s kind of got that water ice thing. He feels like he is.”
Ask Cabrera to pick a favorite spot, and he can’t. “I love them all,” he said, noting that each place is different. But the outfield is the latest for him. He had started just 43 professional innings entering Tuesday, all this year.
Cabrera asked to start playing in the minors outfield last season, but he didn’t get the chance. This year, he didn’t say anything, but the organization took him up on a standing offer. And it was Cabrera’s versatility that helped him advance to the majors.
“I want to do different things like learn,” Cabrera said. “Whenever they need me there, I can play there. It’s an opportunity to play, so that’s why I was like, I want to do this too.”
We provide the spark
As strong as Cabrera’s adjustment is, the Yankees also called him and Florial last week because they were looking for a spark.
The team was .500 in July and 3-11 in August before Cabrera’s debut. With veterans like Aaron Hicks, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson struggling, the Yankees wanted to take a shot at some younger players.
“He’s someone we’re really excited about,” Boone said when Cabrera, the Yankees’ No. 14 prospect, per MLB.com, joined the team. “We’ve always loved his makeup and really like what he brings to the table as a hitter. He hits the ball and is a really good infielder wherever you put him.”
While Cabrera’s bat didn’t quite save his glove — he was hitting .136 with a double through Monday, though he did bring a bases-loaded walk on Tuesday — he brought some energy and joy to the Bronx at a time when things are in short supply (the Yankees won consecutive games on Sunday and Monday for the first time since late July).
“He was always just that free, loose player,” Marinaccio said. “It doesn’t seem like anything is too big for him, and he’s serious enough that he just seems to jump right in.”
So far, the approach of the Yankees and Cabrera has worked well. But Cabrera’s quick rise isn’t the only thing that’s notoriously beneficial.
“I’ve already got a bunch of people hitting me,” Ramos said, referring to the onslaught of necklaces prompted by Cabrera. “It’s really good.”